In a throwdown of the pens, a common question that comes up is between ballpoint, rollerball and fountain pens what is the best option? This is not an easy question to answer, as the pen that you buy should serve your individual needs.
We are going to give a brief breakdown of these three types of pens and then conclude which one is best for what person and what situation.
Fountain Pen
The fountain pen has become known as a status symbol over the years thanks to its elegance, versatility, and traditional feel. The fountain pen is almost hard to be compared to the ballpoint and rollerball because it has a feel and structure that is much more unique. They use a nib and hold ink that will need to be manually refilled.
They offer a lot of flexibility with all the choices in ink and nibs that are available. This means that you can choose not only what color you want to write in but even the style that the ink uses. Anything from thick, bold lines to thin italic lines are possible with fountain pens.
Ballpoint Pens
The ballpoint pen is one that pretty much everyone is familiar with, thanks to the massive popularity they have in offices and schools around the world. They use an ink that is similar to a paste consistency and is oil based.
Some good points of the ballpoint are that they are cheap, readily available, disposable, and last a very long time. This makes them perfect for the office, school or just around the house.
Rollerball Pens
Rollerball pens are quite similar to fountain pens in the design aspect. They are better in our opinion though, as they have a more sophisticated style than the ballpoint. Also, the ink is different in a good way.
The rollerball uses a thin, water-based ink that ends up giving a more bold, wetter look when you write. The negative aspect of this is that they are more likely to smudge. Also, you will have to be careful to always cap the end to prevent leakage and stains if you keep it in your bag or pocket.A positive aspect of these pens is that they are known for being comfortable and easy to write with because the ink flows so easily.
The Verdict
So in summary, if you are just looking for something basic to use at school, work, or for everyday light use, then the ballpoint pen is probably the best option for you.
If you want something that is a step up from the ballpoint, then the rollerball pen might be the one for you. They might not be on par with the fountain pens, but the different ink used makes them more comfortable and easy to write with.
If you want the ultimate in luxury and prestige, then a fountain pen might be the one for you. The numerous ink refill and nib options give so much choice that you can literally customize your writing experience.